Detachable heel for shoes



y 5- RN. WILSON V 2,379,559

DETAGHABLE HEEL FOR SHOES Filed March 31, 1944 a H6. 6 I

I l 3/ 30 30 I 176. 7 25 H l 32 5 5g INVENTOR.

a4 1 35 /4/80 AK w/mo/v Patented July 3, 1945 UNITED "STATES PATENT orrice,

DETACHABLEHEEL FOR SHOES Richard N. Wilson, Lansing, Mich. Application March 31, 19-44 Serial No. 523,820

This invention relates to footwear, and more 1 Claim.

particularly to detachable heels therefor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide fastening means for detachably connectin a heel to a shoe by means of which relative movement between the detachable heel and the shoe is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide fastening means which can be attached to standard foot wear so as to provide for ready replacement of heels which become worn through use.

These objects will more fully appear in the following specification When read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a shoe embodying one form of the invention, a portion of the heel being broken away to more clearly disclose the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of the same; i

Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional and plan views, respectively; of a threaded sleeve formin part of the means for attaching the removable heel to the shoe;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of the invention; and

Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional and plan views, respectively, of a modified form of attach-' ing sleeve.

shoe by nails l'l received in the apertures-l6. The nails 11 are clinched over at their upper ends, as indicated in Figure 1, against a shoemakers anvil or the like.

The detachable heel I3 is provided with vertically extending cylindrical recesses I8 therein. The diameter of the openings l8 issuch as to snugly receive the lower ends of the sleeves M, as indicated in Figure 1. A washer l9'is molded into the heel, in case the heel is made of rubber, at the location of each recess l8. In case the heel l3 should be-made of leather, the heel is best fashioned from a plurality of sheets of'leather, with the washers l9 inserted between two adjacent sheets. Preferably the washers I9 are posttioned relative to the heel l3 so that the washers will engage the lower endsof the sleeves I l.

The heel I3 is held in positionagainst the permanent heel lift H by means of threaded machine screws 20. The latter extend through the apertures in the washers l 9 and are threaded into the sleeves l4. 7

Figures 5 to 7 illustrate a modified form of the invention. The broad principles of the device shown in Figures 5 to 7 are the same as those previously described, but the attaching means for the detachable heel is intended tobecome a permanent part of the shoe' when the latter is manufactured.

The shoe comprises a sole 25, an upper 26, and a permanent heel lift 21. The detachable heel is indicated by the numeral 28.

The permanent heel lift 21 is bored a cylindrical sleeve 29 having a head '30 at its upper end. Preferably the head is provided with one or more struck out prongs 3| which dig into the heel 21 and prevent the sleeve from rotating. The sleeve is internally threaded. The sleeve extends a substantial distance below the lower surwhich may be of rubber, leather or other suitable material.

Attached to the permanent heel'lift l2 are a plurality of sleeves l4. One of the sleeves is disclosed in Figures 3 and 4. Each sleeve is internally threaded and is provided with a radially extending flange i5 approximately midway be-' tween its upper and lower ends. The flange is provided with two or more small apertures it.

The heel lift i2 is provided with recesses to receive the sleeves l4. terbored at the lower ends of each recess to receive the flange l5 of the sleeve so that the bottom surface of the latter is flush with the bottom of the heel lift I2.

The heel lift I2 is counface of the permanent heel lift 21.

The detachable heel 28 is identicalwith the detachable heel 13 previously described. It is provided with openings 32 and washers 33 embedded in the heel.

The heel 28 is placed in position with the openings 32 receiving the sleeves 29. It is held in position by threaded machine screws 34. The latter engage the washers 33.

This invention provides a simple and economical means for readily detachably connecting a rubber heel or the like to the permanent heel lift or the upper part of a shoe. Heels which are adapted to be employed with the present invention can be readily molded from rubber and The sleeve is attached to the made to fit a standard shoe constructionpso that to receive I heels can be easily replaced by the wearer oi the shoe. When the heels are molded in suitable dies, no trimming or buffing is required. The sleeves 29 accurately locate the heel relative to the shoe when the heel is attached thereto.

The relatively large size of the sleeves l4 and 29 furnishes a substantial area of contact between the detachable heel and the attaching means therefor, so that relative movement of the heel and the shoe is eliminated. There is no tendency for the fastening means to cut into the detachable heel.

Since the detachable heels can be readily replaced by the wearer, and can be inexpensively made, there is not the tendency for the wearer to continue touse a pair of heels to the point where they become badly worn and run-over. Prompt replacement of the heels when slightly worn will increase the life of the shoes with which they are used.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claim.

I claim:

A shoe including a heel comprising juxtaposed separable upper and lower portions, said upper portion being permanently secured to said shoe, a sleeve having aradial flange thereon permanently attached to the upper portion with the lower surface of the flange in coplanar relation with the lower surface of the upper portion of the heel, said lower portion of the heel having an upwardly opening recess receiving said sleeve and 5 fitting the same, and means engaging said lower portion and threaded into said sleeve for detachably securing the latter to the upper portion of the heel.

RICHARD N. WILSON. 

